Method and apparatus for generating images using a color field sequential display

• US 9,299,312 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Wyatt, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Sharifi-Tafreshi, Koosha
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Chun-Nan
• Application Number:
  US13/104,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/102, 345690-699, 345204-208
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0252 Improving the response speed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/16 Determination of a pixel data signal depending on the signal applied in the previous frame
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/04 using circuits for interfacing with colour displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/395 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of the bit-mapped memory to the screen G09G5/399 takes precedence

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating and transmitting video frame data from a graphics processing unit (GPU) to a color field sequential display device capable of displaying an auto-stereoscopic image. A frame buffer image comprising per-pixel packed color channels is transformed to a frame buffer image comprising regions corresponding to the color channels with vertical blanking regions inserted between color sub-field regions. Each region of the transformed frame buffer image is sequentially transmitted to the color field sequential display device for display of the corresponding color channel. Backlight illumination for each color channel is controlled by the GPU for temporal alignment with display of each color channel during the vertical blanking interval. The technique is compatible with lenticular and parallax barrier displays.

Claims

1. A method for displaying auto-stereoscopic image information, the method comprising:

obtaining a line of pixel intensity data that includes a first perspective having a left image and a right image, wherein each of the left image and the right image includes color channel information for only a first color of a plurality of colors associated with an auto-stereoscopic image, wherein the line of pixel intensity data is processed based on a pixel clock operating at a first frequency;

driving the pixel intensity data to a color field sequential display;

receiving at least one line of vertical blanking data that is processed based on the pixel clock operating at a second frequency, the first and second frequencies being different frequencies; and

updating a backlight state corresponding to a backlight color associated with a backlight coupled to the color field sequential display, wherein the backlight color corresponds to the first color.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the line of pixel intensity data further includes a second perspective having a left image and a right image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of colors includes red, green, and blue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of updating comprises:

receiving a new intensity value for the backlight color; and

configuring one or more light emitting devices within the backlight to emit light corresponding to the backlight color based on the new intensity value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the line of pixel intensity data further comprises storing units of obtained data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein obtaining the line of pixel intensity data comprises sampling the line of pixel intensity data based on the pixel clock, the pixel clock operates at the first frequency while sampling the line of pixel intensity data, and the second frequency is less than the first frequency.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the backlight state includes an intensity of a backlight.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising turning the backlight off after updating the backlight state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second frequency is less than the first frequency.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one line of vertical blanking data provides a vertical blanking time period, the vertical blanking time period being increased by decreasing the second frequency.

11. An apparatus for displaying auto-stereoscopic image information, the apparatus comprising:

a color field sequential display; and

a control logic configured to;

obtain a line of pixel intensity data that includes a first perspective having a left image and a right image, wherein each of the left image and the right image includes color channel information for only a first color of a plurality of colors associated with an auto-stereoscopic image, wherein obtaining the line of pixel intensity data is processed based on a pixel clock operating at a first frequency;

drive the pixel intensity data to a color field sequential display;

receive at least one line of vertical blanking data that is processed based on the pixel clock operating at a second frequency, the first and second frequencies being different frequencies; and

update a backlight state corresponding to a backlight color associated with a backlight coupled to the color field sequential display, wherein the backlight color corresponds to the first color.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the line of pixel intensity data further includes a second perspective having a left image and a right image.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of colors includes red, green, and blue.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein to obtain the line of pixel intensity data, the control logic is configured to sample the line of pixel intensity data based on the pixel clock operating at the first frequency, and to store units of sampled data, and wherein the second frequency is less than the first frequency.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a display frame comprises plural lines of pixel intensity data having a frame transmission time that is based on the first frequency, and a vertical blanking time based on the second frequency, and wherein a specified frame time comprises a sum of the frame transmission time and the vertical blanking time.